USC Radio next travels to the great city of Chicago this fall, the grand Midwest hub famed for its groundbreaking architecture, outstanding food, and of course the Chicago Symphony. KUSC Host John Van Driel will provide insights into the four major performances you’ll hear: two concerts by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, one of the finest in the world, both under the baton of Riccardo Muti; an all-Beethoven recital by the great Viennese pianist Rudolf Buchbinder; and Chicago Lyric Opera’s production of a stunning contemporary work, Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking, which has riveted audiences around the world.

Chicago is justly famed for its architecture and its food. The Chicago Architecture Center takes us on two special tours, and we will travel out to Oak Park to view the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and his Prairie-style architecture, born in Chicago. Fine dining at some of the city’s best restaurants and a unique tour to different neighborhoods to sample a variety of ethnic foods pay homage to Chicago’s terrific cuisine.

Our home for six nights is the historic Blackstone Hotel where all rooms overlook Grant Park and Lake Michigan. The commentary of Classical KUSC’s John Van Driel throughout the trip and free time to explore more of the city—and shop the “Mag Mile”—complete our discovery of one of the country’s truly great cities in style. As Frank once sang: “Chicago is/One town that won’t let you down/It’s my kind of town!”

Music and The Windy City Beethoven & Muti, Food & Architecture in Chicago with USC Radio!

Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra

November 5 – 11, 2019

H H H H

T o u r H i g H l i g H T s

• Primeticketstofourmajorperformances, including two Chicago Symphony concerts conducted by Riccardo Muti, an opera, and an all-Beethoven piano recital

• PrivatearchitecturaltoursbytheChicagoArchitectural Center

• PrivateexcursiontoOakParktoviewmajor buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

• PrivateguidedtouroftheArtInstituteofChicago

• Exclusivefoodtoursamplingdifferentcuisines in different neighborhoods

• CommentarybyKUSC’sJohnVanDrielon all the music you’ll hear

• Optionaldinner&performanceatfamedblues club, Buddy Guy’s Legends

• FreetimetoshoptheMagnificentMileortake in other Chicago sites

TOUrlIMITEDTO 25 PARTICIPAnTS

Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate

Thursday, november 7Art and the BluesAnother exclusive Chicago Architecture tour takes up the morning. Then we visit the famed Art Institute of Chicago, most famous for its Impressionist, Post-impressionist, and American paintings. lunch at the museum’s Terzo Piano restaurant, aptly named for the architect of the Art Institute’s new wing, Renzo Piano, precedes our private guided tour. This evening you have the option of dinner and a show at Buddy Guy’s Legends, one of the best clubs in the country to hear the blues, a trademark of Chicago!

Friday, november 8A Gastronomic Adventure!Chicago is widely known as a great place to eat. Today we explore its wide variety of culinary delights with a guided tour of ethnic eateries and specialty food shops. Call it a day of lunch hopping! Your evening is free.

Saturday, november 9Frank Lloyd Wright This morning, we travel to the suburb of Oak Park to visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio where he began his career as one of the great architects of the twentieth century. We will take a walk down Forest Avenue lined with his Prairie-style homes and end at Unity Temple, a rare example of a Wright-designed church. Tonight Riccardo Muti again leads his marvelous orchestra in music by Wagner, Brahms and Schumann.

Sunday, november 10Unforgetable Opera

A free morning in Chicago to complete your shopping, explore other sites or simply relax. Chicago Lyric Opera’s matinee performance of Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking with libretto by Terence Mcnally, is sure to be unforgettable. Premiered in 2000 at San Francisco Opera, the true story explores the nature of forgiveness in profound ways. Patricia

Racette, Susan Graham and Ryan McKinny lead a stellar cast under the baton of nicole Paiement. Our farewell dinner takes

place at one of Chicago’s finest restaurants.

Monday, november 11The tour ends after breakfast, and we transfer to O’Hare for the group flight return to Los Angeles.

Tuesday, november 5Welcome!After the optional group flight from LAX to Chicago O’Hare, we settle into our home for the next six nights, the Blackstone Hotel, downtown within the Loop. Presidents, movie and music legends, and even mobsters have stayed there. Caruso sang at the 1910 opening! An early welcome drink and dinner precedes our first concert at Orchestra Hall. Maestro Muti conducts music by Beethoven, Liszt and a World Premiere by Pulitzer Prize winner Bernard Rands, with renowned violinist Leonidas Kavakos the soloist in the great Beethoven Violin Concerto.

Wednesday, november 6The Windy City Breakfast daily at the hotel. This morning we explore the Windy City’s history by coach with a local expert from the Chicago Architecture Center. lunch will be at a classic Chicago eatery. The afternoon will be free for you to explore the Loop before Rudolf Buchbinder treats us to more Beethoven: four of his 32 superb piano sonatas climaxing with the brilliant Appassionata at Orchestra Hall.

Downtown Chicago

ItineraryDaily

Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio

Itinerary is subject to change. Meals in bold are included in the price of the tour.

Buddy Guy’s Legends

Y o u r H o s T , J o H N VA N D r i E l

John Van Driel is the Chief Content

Officer for Classical KUSC and Classical

KDFC, overseeing the day-to-day

programming operations for KUSC in

Los Angeles and KDFC in San Francisco.

Currently, he can be heard on the air on KUSC weekdays

6-8 am. John comes to us following a long and successful

career in classical music radio in Toronto, Canada. He

has spent 36 years engaging in every aspect of classical

music, both on and off the air. John was born and raised

inEdmonton,Alberta,Canada.JohnandhiswifeHelen

embarked on their new adventure with KUSC/ KDFC in

2016 and are happy to call Los Angeles their new home.

Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center

Tour Registration

Tour Cost: $3,975 per person, ground only, double occupancy Single supplement: $815. Optional group flight: $395, economy on United. Please ask about higher classes of seating.

Deposit: $900 per person first come, first served.

Balance deadline: October 4, 2019. After that date, call for availability.

Contact Minnie Prince of KUSC at 213-225-7534 or mprince@kusc.org to reserve your place on the tour with a credit card deposit, or send a check made out to The Grand Tour for the deposit amount to: Chicago Tour, KUSC, PO Box 7913, Los Angeles, CA 90007. Registration materials can be downloaded from www.kusc.org

Questions? Contact Minnie Prince at KUSC or The Grand Tour at 800-727-2995 / info@thegrandtour.com

The Chicago tour is an exclusive presentation by USC Radio and is organized by The Grand Tour Travel Company, Peterborough, new Hampshire, Calif. Lic.: 2088711-40.

above: Art Institute of Chicago Modern Wing, designed by Renzo Piano

Chicago’s French Market

below: Rudolf Buchbinder

Lyric Opera’s Dead Man Walking